7 foldable phone problems that haven’t been fixed yet

Foldable phones have been gaining momentum since their global launch in 2019, and we’ve also seen these devices bring notable improvements over the years. These advances include stronger folding screens, fewer display wrinkles, and more robust software.

However, it’s clear that there are still some big issues with foldable phones that still need to be addressed. Here are some of the more prominent hurdles future foldables will have to overcome.

A notable problem that foldable phones have yet to fully solve is the presence of a crease on the display. This is particularly noticeable on Samsung’s foldable devices, and you can see and feel the crease on both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4.

It’s also worth noting that competing foldable phone makers like Oppo, Honor, and Huawei have also tried to address this issue, with varying degrees of success. We thought the Huawei Mate X2 in particular delivered a crease that was “barely noticeable”. Meanwhile, the Oppo Find N only has two slight creases and no major gutter. However, these reduced wrinkles seemed to come at the expense of water resistance – not an easy compromise.

It goes without saying that progress is being made in this regard. But we’re definitely looking at a crease-free future for all foldable devices.

Samsung leads the way when it comes to IP ratings for foldable phones, offering an IPX8 rating for full water resistance. No other foldable phone can boast a waterproof design. However, the “X” in “IPX8” means the foldable devices aren’t rated for dust resistance at all.

Related: Everything you need to know about IP and ATM ratings

This is something we’d really like to see in future foldable phones. However, we can appreciate the engineering challenge that a dust-resistant folding device poses given the sheer number of moving parts involved in this form factor. For example, today’s hinges and display folds still leave room for dust and other contaminants to get in. So we expect these areas to be addressed first if full dust resistance is to be achieved.

Folding screens have only gotten tougher over the years, with ultra-thin glass (UTG) now available on several models. Samsung even offers S Pen support for the Galaxy Z Fold series, which serves as a kind of testament to the screen’s sturdiness. However, there is no denying that many folding screens still look and feel cheap.

Glare is still an issue on some foldable devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 4. To be fair, some devices like the Vivo X Fold Plus offer an anti-glare coating to alleviate this problem. Perhaps the bigger problem is that folding screens still feel like plastic, because that’s what they are. Samsung’s foldables even warn you not to press your nail on the screen, something you wouldn’t have to think twice about with a traditional smartphone.

A full-fledged foldable glass screen would probably go a long way towards solving this problem. For what it’s worth, Gorilla Glass maker Corning is also working on ultra-thin foldable glass called Willow Glass. But there’s no ETA on it yet and it’s unclear if the manufacturers will slap another layer of plastic on it like we’re seeing with UTG right now.

Software is an integral part of the foldable phone experience and Google has done a good job with Android 12L. We’ve also seen great work from Samsung in this regard. However, app support is still an issue with foldable phones today.

We still see some apps that don’t support popular large-screen foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold series. Instagram is the most notable example of this (see above), as it still offers a smartphone-style window when viewed on the Fold’s big screen. Instagram’s case is particularly disappointing given the sheer volume of resources available at its parent company.

Related: Android 12L – Everything you need to know about Google’s operating system for the big screen

Instagram isn’t the only case, however, as Amazon isn’t optimized for the foldable screen either, offering a windowed view on the larger panel. fellow aa Author John Callaham also notes that his banking app, Wells Fargo, doesn’t work properly on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, preventing him from logging in with the fingerprint scanner when using the folding display. However, after all this time, it’s clear that app developers still need to step up their game.

These aren’t the only examples of shoddy app support, as some apps don’t do well when it comes to multi-window support or Samsung’s Flex mode either. But hopefully Android 12L and future Android releases will open the door for improved support.

Another area that has been trimmed due to the form factor is the general spec sheet. Most foldable phones on the market make a few compromises for technical reasons.

For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has the same 4,400mAh battery as its predecessors and lacks the 108MP camera or 10x camera of the S22 Ultra. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 lacks wireless charging, water resistance, and a free-stop hinge. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 brings a bigger battery, but you’re still stuck with an outdated 12MP + 12MP camera system.

However, we can understand why we see some of these compromises. A phone like the Galaxy Z Fold series has a narrower form factor due to the narrow smartphone screen. Many foldables are also a bit thinner than typical smartphones when they are unfolded. Throw in a complex hinge and there really isn’t much room for big batteries, big camera sensors and other goodies. In fact, we’re already seeing several foldable devices offering dual-battery designs to make the most of the form factor.

It won’t happen overnight, but we really would like to see smartphone brands less compromising in the name of the foldable form factor. We may have to wait for new technologies like smaller lenses and new battery solutions if we really want a no-compromise device. Alternatively, you may just have to deal with thicker leaflets. However, this is disappointing, especially given the asking price for these devices.

What if you want a foldable Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo or Vivo instead? Bad luck, because these devices are only available in China and therefore have to be imported. It’s a huge shame as some of these devices look like really compelling alternatives to Galaxy Foldables.

We hope that will change in 2023 as these players grapple with foldable phone development and supply chain challenges. But we really don’t want another year of Samsung effectively being the default option.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for foldable phones is that most of them are exceptionally expensive. case study? The Galaxy Z Fold 4, which starts at $1,799. For comparison, the traditional but better-equipped Galaxy S22 Ultra starts at $1,200.

The Huawei Mate XS 2 ups the ante and will set you back €1,999 (~$1,984). This is a crazy price, especially given the foldable device’s lack of Google support.

That’s not to say there aren’t cheaper foldables, with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in particular coming in at a more affordable $999. That’s still expensive compared to the average retail price of a smartphone, but it’s in line with today’s typical flagships. Still, we can’t wait to get mid-priced foldable phones.

The big question is how exactly do we get mid-range prices for foldables. Well, some of the more obvious trade-offs involve chipset, RAM, storage, IP rating, and battery capacity. So we wouldn’t be surprised if a theoretical Galaxy A Flip came with an Exynos 1280 or Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage and, at best, splashproofing.

We also expect companies to switch to cheaper foldable screens from Chinese suppliers like BOE. In fact, the Honor Magic V already uses a BOE folding panel. Finally, we wouldn’t trust some gamers to use early-gen foldable screens for their first mid-range foldable devices, or limit features like UTG layers.